Help and advice

Whatever problem you may be experiencing there is someone that can offer you advice and support. Listed below are services which are either based in the borough or who offer support to residents of the borough. Many of these are funded through the Community Safety Partnership.

Domestic abuse services

Women's Support Service

The Women's Support Service (WSS) provide help and support for women affected by partners and ex-partners who use frightening and abusive behaviour. WSS can help with safety planning and can provide information and support. You do not have to give your name if you don't want to.

Contact WSS on 01622 761146.

Women's Support Service also run the Freedom Programme. This is a twelve week rolling programme empowering women to improve the quality of their lives through understanding domestic violence. For information about the Freedom Programme contact 01622 761146.

Citizens Advice Domestic Violence Advocacy Service

The Citizens Advice Service offer free confidential help, support and advice. Call them on 01622 663990.

Community Legal Advice

Community legal advice is a free and confidential advice service. It is funded by legal aid for people on low incomes or benefits and includes a helpline 0845 3454 345 and a website www.communitylegalaid.org.uk.

The service can help victims of domestic violence to tackle some of the related issues such as housing and money problems. 

Calls to the helpline cost no more than 4p per minute from a landline (more from mobiles). They also offer a call back service - text 'legalaid' and your name to 80010 and you will get a call back within 24 hours. The helpline also has a translation service available.  

Services for perpetrators of domestic abuse

The Community Domestic Abuse Perpetrators Programme is a free rolling programme of 27 evening sessions and is designed to help men who feel that their behaviour towards their partners has been, or still is, abusive, to challenge their behaviour and to see how it is affecting their partner/ex partner and children who may be involved.

Men who live in Tonbridge and Malling, Tunbridge Wells or Sevenoaks can be referred to the programme. However, they must accept that their behaviour is a problem, accept responsibility for ending their abusive behaviour towards their partner/ex partner and be prepared to agree to the conditions of attendance.

For further information contact the programme manager on 07933 359210.

National helplines

There are a number of national helpline and websites available and some of these are listed below:

Women's Aid 

A national charity working to end domestic abuse against women and children. They have a free telephone helpline 0808 2000 247 and a website www.womensaid.org.uk

Refuge

Offers emergency accomodation and support for women and children experiencing domestic abuse. Their helpline number is 0808 200 0247 and their website is www.refuge.org.uk

Broken Rainbow

Probides a telephone line for lesbians, gay men, bisexual or transgendered people experiencing domestic abuse. It is staffed by workers from these communities. Their helpline number is 0845 260 4460 and their website is www.broken-rainbow.org.uk

Mankind

Give help and advice to male victims of domestic abuse. Their helpline number is 0870 794 4124 or their website address is www.mankind.org.uk

Action on Elder Abuse

Work to protect and prevent the abuse of older people. Anyone concerned in anyway about the abuse of older people can call their helpline number on 0808 808 8141 or look at their website www.elderabuse.org.uk

Services for victims of sexual assault

Victims of rape and serious sexual assualt can self refer to the Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC) located in the Renton Clinic at Darent Valley Hospital, Dartford. The SARC offers a place of safety where victims can receive sexual health screening and be referred for counselling. Victims do not have to report what has happened to them to the Police if they do not wish to.

The Renton Clinic is open Monday to Friday between 9am and 4pm.

Services for alcohol and drug misuse

Alcohol Support Programme (ASP)

This programme is run by Kenward Trust and is for 10 - 17 year olds who have been involved in an alcohol related incident or who have been identified as being vulnerable to an alcohol problem.

The programme works with young people on a one to one basis and offers them an initial assessment with a trained young persons substance misuse worker, a multi-agency programme providing information and guidance on alcohol, health and the law and follow up meetings to assess whether the young person needs further support.

For more information or to make a referral contact the ASP co-ordinator on 01622 817820.

Alcohol Clinics

These clinics are for adults who are experiencing health problems, relationship problems, mental health problems or behavioural problems related to their alcohol use.

In Tonbridge and Malling clinics are available in Tonbridge and Larkfield and can offer a one off chat, a chance to receive information, advice and support and a course with an alcohol specialist for up to six weeks.

To refer contact the Kenward Trust on 01732 370413 or email enquiry@wealdencentre.org.uk  

Drug Intervention Support Programme (DISP)

This is an early intervention programme for young people aged 10 - 17 who have been involved in a drug related incident or who have been identified as being vulnerable to a drug problem. DISP offers an alternative to a school exclusion or police prosecution following a drug related incident. If a young person successfully participates and completes the programme the police will not prosecute for this drug offence and schools may not take further action.

To refer, or for further details, contact the DISP co-ordinator on 01622 817820.

To report hate crimes

The Community Safety Partnership contributes funding towards two freephone hate crime reporting telephone lines. These are the racial incident reporting line and the homophobic reporting line. These lines are primarily for those who do not wish (or want) to report directly to the police. The lines are independent and the police will not be involved unless the victim agrees.

Racial Incident Reporting Line - to report all racial incidents call 0800 138 1624

Homophobic Reporting Line - to report homophobic or transphobic incidents call 0800 328 9162.

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Last updated: 02/06/09 at 17:14:00 Office use only: 58/2011-04-28